UAE currency: the story behind the coins in your pockets

UAE currency: the story behind the coins in your pockets

The UAE was formed in December 1971 but it took about another two years before the new country got its own currency.

On May 20, 1973, in came the dirham and out went the rupee, the dinar, the riyal and even the Maria Theresa silver thaler.

Having a currency was an expression of sovereignty and unity, especially when so many others had been in circulation among the seven emirates.